𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍;
LAST CHRISTMAS

— REESE WOKE UP THE morning of December twenty-fifth slick with sweat; her stomach churned uneasily from her nightmare, expressionless faces calling at her to save them, trees burning with uncontrollable fire and a torrential downpour of rain acting like gasoline. Her heartbeat pounded against her ribs so hard that Reese was sure they would crack. She glanced at her alarm clock, the numbers reading four fifty-five and groaned. The sun had barely touched the horizon, the thick layer of clouds turned a golden color, and the sky turned from indigo to violet. Reese tried to shut her eyes, the headache throbbing against her temples pleading for more sleep, but the adrenaline coursing through her veins, charged by the whispers, made it nearly impossible for her to stay still long enough for her brain to shut down.

Frustrated, Reese rolled out from under her mound of thick blankets and slipped out of her bedroom and into the dark hall. She used her hands as a guide to the stairs where she could see a faint light coming from the bottom floor, Christmas music playing softly. Reese placed her steps cautiously, not wanting the wood to creak and risk waking the twins or, even worse, Poppy. When she reached the landing, Reese spotted Elizabeth; she was wearing pajamas that Reese swore she saw hanging in her mother's closet with a Santa hat pushed over her head. Elizabeth hummed along to Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Frank Sinatra, swaying along to the sweet sound and positioning presents under the wonky tree she'd bought the previous day. She stuffed little things into stockings tacked to the fireplace that crackled with a small fire, with the children's names written on them in sharpie. 

"Hey," Reese greeted softly, trying not to startle her aunt. 

Elizabeth jolted but smiled when she saw Reese. "Hey, what're you doing up?"

Reese sat down on the couch, wrapping the throw blanket around herself. "Bad dreams couldn't sleep."

Elizabeth's smile dimmed, but then returned to its original state when she handed Reese a poorly wrapped gift. "I know most people open presents together, but, well, this one is just for you."

Tears pricked at Reese's green eyes as she held the gift in her hands. She wasn't sure why she was crying, it wasn't as if this was the first present she'd ever received, but she also hadn't expected her aunt to get them all of this stuff. Then, Reese realized Elizabeth never had anyone to buy gifts for; no reason to decorate a tree or hang stockings. She was all alone. Her sister and her family never around, no husband or other loved ones. This was the first Christmas in a long time that Elizabeth had company. Reese forced down a sob and tore open the wrapping that had pretty red bows and Christmas trees decorated on it.

In a small box, surrounded by soft tissue paper, was a golden locket. On the front, it was engraved with an intricately detailed heart and a little clasp. When she opened it, golden sparks trickled out and swirled together until Reese found herself staring at the outline of a couple dancing in the snow. They were the size of a Barbie doll, but they moved like real people. They twirled slowly (later Reese realized in tune to the music she was listening to) and waltzed around Elizabeth's living room. Even though their eyes were nothing more than flecks of magical gold, Reese could see the love they held for each other in them. Reese felt Elizabeth sit down on the couch beside her, watching the couple dance.

"That's my parents isn't it?" Reese asked, feeling her tears water her cheeks. The longer she watched, the more detail the figures got until Reese could see her mother's flaxen hair and shimmering green eyes and her father's chestnut brown ones that reflected the golden snowflakes. 

"Yes," Elizabeth whispered, tapping the inside of the necklace where Reese saw a photo of her parents she hadn't noticed before. They were young, still so full of life and happiness. "The locket is enchanted to show happiest memories. This was your mother's. I found it in the box of things that had survived the, you know. I thought you would like to have it."

Reese stood up, watching her parents sway back and forth together. They laughed and Reese could hear the sound from her own memories. Paul dipped Mallory, letting her lean back for a few seconds before he tugged her back up and held her in his arms. They danced and danced and danced, never stopping or growing tired. Elizabeth had gone back to putting presents under the tree, rushing as the sun started to climb above the mountains and cast a warm glow on them. Reese still held the locket, eyes never leaving the miniature figure of her parents. Once Elizabeth had set down the last gift, Reese let the locket close with a little click. Once it had been clamped shut, her parents disintegrated into golden dust and settled against the locket, seeping inside through the heart.

No sooner had the magic left, Annmarie and Taylor came bounding down the stairs with Poppy at their heels. The eyes they shared with their father light up when they saw the array of gifts laid out in the living room. They cautiously moved forward as if ready to be told that they weren't for them, that they couldn't have them.

"Those for us?" Annmarie asked in awe, poking at one of the larger boxes.

"Of course they are," Elizabeth answered, a kind smile gracing her lips. 

"Santa knew we were here?" Taylor questioned, his eyes wide in disbelief. 

"Of course he did," Reese told her little brother, grabbing him and pulling him onto her lap where she pressed a kiss to his cheek. He giggled and struggled away from her so that he could find the presents with his name on them.

Elizabeth sat beside Reese for the second time, throwing an arm around her shoulders and holding her tightly. For a second, almost a whole minute really, Reese was happy; something she hadn't been in a while. Listening to sweet music while watching the two young kids sit under a pile of wrapping paper as the gasped and cheered and thanked as they saw the toys they'd always wanted. Reese felt her lips tighten in an attempt to smile, but then the voices whispered to her: this is your last Christmas. And suddenly she wasn't happy anymore. The calming music just made her chest ache and the scent from the pine tree made her stomach churn uneasily. The twins' smiles and laughs made tears prick at her eyes, she would miss them so much. 

As if she knew what was going on in Reese's head, Elizabeth's grip tightened. Her manicured nails pressed against Reese's pajama shirt, so firm that Reese was sure there would be little crescent-shaped marks embedded in her skin. But she didn't dare move or ask Elizabeth to loosen her grip; Reese was too afraid that she would disintegrate just like her dancing parents. Instead, Reese stared at her siblings, desperate to remember everything about them. How Annmarie's tongue poked out as she lightly unwrapped her gifts and smiled so brightly when she saw what was inside; how Taylor shredded the paper and cheered when he spied the toy truck he'd been prattling on about for weeks. Reese even looked at her aunt; how the corners of Elizabeth's mouth twitched when the twins thanked Santa, how her emerald eyes twinkled, how she brushed stray strands of honey blonde hair out of her face. Reese committed it all to memory. 

"Reesey," Annmarie called from behind a mountain of holiday-themed paper. "These have your name on it."

Reese shot a look to Elizabeth who shrugged her shoulders suspiciously as if to say wasn't me, but took the gifts nonetheless. Annmarie shuffled across the carpet and handed her older sister the two large boxes and one very small one. Reese cautiously peeled off the tape off of the bigger one first, the paper falling away once there was nothing holding it together. She couldn't help the gasp as her fingers grazed the pale purple knit blanket — the homemade kind. 

Elizabeth nodded proudly. "Those days I said I was working late, I was really going to a knitting class. I know I always sleep better with a warm blanket and I figured you might too."

"Thank you, Aunt Elizabeth," Reese whispered thankfully, tears glimmering in her green eyes. "Really, this is great."

Reese then went to work on the second box, finding an assortment of clothes. New clothes that didn't smell vaguely of soot or cigarette smoke. There were a handful of colorful blouses and sweaters, mixed with a few old band t-shirts and the kind of vintage sweaters that Reese liked to wear around the house or when she sat on the front porch. The last, smaller box had a book in it with a few sticky notes marking a handful of pages. The front of it read WAYZATA HIGH SCHOOL in big bold letters, while below that in much smaller print were the words GRADUATING CLASS OF 1986. Reese opened to the first marked page and saw her mother's smiling face looking up at her. Mallory Logan — then Piedmont — was the captain of the girl's soccer team, her picture larger than the other girls. Reese felt a string of tears drip down her cheek as she went to the next page and saw her father, grinning as he held a trophy high above his head. Reese's little tears turned into full-on sobs when she found the superlative page, and her parents were labeled the couple most likely to get married.   

"I found it in a box in the attic," Elizabeth told Reese, caressing her shoulder in a comforting manner. 

Noting their sister was borderline hyperventilating, the twins abandoned their new stuff to come and comfort her. Annmarie stared down at the book and then pointed to her parents. "It's mommy and daddy! Look, Reesey, it's mommy and daddy!"

"Mommy!" Taylor called grabbing the book from Reese's hands and holding it close to him. He pressed a sloppy kiss to the wax pages then his little lip began to quiver. "I wish mommy and daddy were here."

"Santa couldn't bring them?" Annmarie asked softly. "I put them on my list."

Elizabeth tugged Taylor onto her lap where he curled into her arms and Annmarie climbed up on the couch to sit beside Reese, letting her head rest on her shoulder. Reese combed her fingers through Annamarie's knotted locks. "Even Santa can't do some things."

"But he's got magic," Taylor said sadly. 

"I bet he tried as hard as he could," Reese croaked, trying to clear the emotion from her throat.  

"I'll put it on my list for next year," Annmarie told them all. "Maybe next year Santa will bring them back."

Neither Elizabeth nor Reese had the strength to tell the little kids that there was no coming back for Mallory and Paul Logan; they simply told them that was a great idea and ushered them back to their toys. Annmarie played with her dolls and Taylor made loud honking noises as he rolled his trucks around the floor, and even though they loved what they got Reese wished more than anything that she could give them what the three of them wanted more than anything: their parents. Reese wished she could've celebrated this Christmas with Elizabeth at her side and her mom and dad on the opposite couch exchanging gifts of their own, looking at each other with so much love it would suffocate the others in the room. When Reese closed her eyes she could practically imagine it. How Paul would've given Mallory a necklace he saved up for months to buy while Mallory surprised him with tickets to go see the Vikings play in Minneapolis. That would've been the perfect Christmas, but she was thankful for everything Elizabeth had done for them this year. 

"I'll be right back," Reese muttered to her aunt. "Santa forgot a gift."

With that, Reese rose from her spot on the sofa and rushed upstairs. She ducked into her bedroom, tearing through her closet trying to find the wedding album she'd looked through when she first moved in. After a few minutes of searching, Reese plucked it out from under her winter jacket and flipped through the pages until she found one of Elizabeth and Richard sharing their first dance as a married couple. Reese pulled it from the plastic sleeve and grabbed the frame that held a picture of Mallory and baby Reese from her desk, replacing the photo of her and her mother with Elizabeth's wedding day shot. Quickly wrapping it in some of the paper she'd snuck from her own gifts, Reese taped it all together and then hurried back downstairs. 

While the twins played together, Reese slipped the gift to her aunt. Elizabeth frowned but unwrapped it anyway. Reese heard the intake of breath as Elizabeth stared down at the photo. She ran her pointer finger over Richard's face, smiling softly. Reese let their hands fold together, squeezing her aunt's hand tightly.

"Where did you find this?" Elizabeth asked.

"My closet," Reese told her. "I found it when I first moved in."

"I haven't looked at him in so long," Elizabeth admitted, covering her mouth as she hiccuped. "I almost forgot what he looked like. Oh, I miss him so much."

"I'm sorry for what happened to him," Reese said sympathetically, knowing how her aunt felt. "But you can't let yourself forget him. He deserves better than that."

"Yes, he does," Elizabeth agreed.

As she watched her aunt cling to the frame, Reese felt a little bit of weight come off her shoulders. This was what she was going to die for; all the men who loved the women from her lineage and all who had suffered a tragic fate for that. She was going to avenge Richard and Paul and any other man who fell victim to a vindictive woman's curse. Reese Logan was going to make sure that their deaths didn't go unnoticed. She knew what had happened to them and why, and she was going to make sure it never happened again. Reese would make sure of that, no matter the cost.

□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □

— REESE MADE THE CALL the moment Elizabeth started cooking. Flynn picked up almost immediately, worry evident in her tone.

"Are you okay?" Flynn asked, and Reese could feel her stress. "I didn't feel anything happen."

"We're fine," Reese soothed, sending out waves of comforting energy. "Elizabeth's just trying to cook us a Christmas dinner—"

"Do you want to come over?" 

"Are you sure your family won't mind?" Reese felt guilty for infringing on their holiday. 

"Are you kidding?" Flynn laughed. "My mom loved being a hostess, besides she doesn't know how to cook the right amount and always ends up making way too much food for the four of us."

"I don't want to intrude—"

"Mom!" Flynn shouted, interrupting Reese.

"What!" Beverley O'Connell called back.

"Can Reese and her family come over for dinner! Elizabeth is cooking!"

"Oh, that would be lovely," Beverley's sweet voice sounded from the other side. "Should I make more potatoes?"

"No, mom," Flynn sighed. "You made enough to feed an army," Flynn then returned to the phone. "She said yes, we eat by five-thirty so come before that because mom wants to give you guys some presents."

"She didn't have to do that," Reese was shocked that Beverley had gone out of her way to buy Reese's family gifts.

"Yeah, she knows that," Reese knew Flynn was shrugging. "But she can't help herself. So I'll see you then?"

"See you then," Reese told her friend.

When Reese hung up, she returned to the kitchen where her aunt was burning a pot of carrots on the stove. She scrunched her nose up at the smell. "I called Flynn, Beverley said that we could come over and eat with them."

Elizabeth sighed in relief. "Thank God, I was just about to kill these carrots."

"About?" Reese asked lightly, turning to the pot of charcoaled vegetables. "We're way past about."

Elizabeth snorted. "They're pretty bad, huh?"

Reese nodded. "Not being able to cook must have been genetic, mom couldn't either."

"Mallory was worse than me," Elizabeth laughed, removing the pan from the stovetop. "That woman couldn't make cereal right."

"But she made a mean peanut butter and jelly," Reese reminded her which made Elizabeth laugh.

"Yeah, I guess she did," Elizabeth shrugged. "I still have her beat on pasta and sauce though."

Reese shook her head, not wanting to tell her aunt that Elizabeth actually couldn't cook pasta that well. She always made the noodles either too soft or too hard, but Reese didn't say that. She didn't want to burst her happy little bubble. The two cleaned up the kitchen and Elizabeth told the twins to go put on some nice clothes so they could go eat dinner with Flynn — they happily obliged, excited to see one of their favorite people. Reese strolled up the stairs after them, turning into her own room to find an outfit. She ended up choosing one of the dresses Elizabeth had gotten her. The emerald number that brought out the color of her eyes and made her hair look a shade lighter than usual, and chose her pair of black booties. Reese grabbed her coat (leaving her cigarettes and lighter in her desk drawer, which she was sure Flynn would be proud of) and found her family waiting for her in the living room.

The twins were matching, Annmarie wearing a pretty red dress while Taylor had on a red button-up shirt and cargo pants. Elizabeth looked stunning, her blonde hair pinned back in a delicate bun, and her well-kept figure enunciated by the sleek, velvet black dress. Reese noted that this was the nicest they'd been dressed since Mallory and Paul's funeral — but Reese kept that thought to herself. Elizabeth seemed happy with how they all looked and directed them out the door and into the car so that they wouldn't be late. The whole ride they sang to the Christmas songs that played on the radio station, the twins oohing and ahhing as they passed houses lit up with lights and blow-up Santa Claus'. 

When they arrived at the O'Connell's house, Beverley was outside waving to them. She wore a Santa hat and held four gifts in her hands. Elizabeth turned off the ignition and the twins escaped their booster seats, rushing up the snowy stairs and greeting Beverley who handed them each a box and pointed for them to go inside. The twins hurried into the house, all smiles as they tore open more gifts. Elizabeth and Reese cautiously moved up the steps, careful to avoid any ice patches, and greeted Beverley.

"Merry Christmas," Beverley cheered, giving them both a warm hug and a present. "Come on in."

"Oh, Bev, if I'd known you were going to be giving us something I would've brought more than a card."

"Don't worry about it," Beverley waved Elizabeth's concern away. "This is just payback for basically being a second home for Flynn. Dinner is just about ready, so once you get settled take a seat at the table."

Reese and Elizabeth opened their gifts and Reese felt her lips tug upwards when she saw that Beverley had given her a beautiful sweater that was soft to the touch and seemed to hold in body heat, perfect for a Washington winter. Elizabeth's box had a handpainted piece of artwork that would fit perfectly in her living room. The two thanked Beverley for her kindness and then trailed after the woman into the warm house. Seamus, Flynn, and Rufus were already at the table and Rufus was giving the twins rolls to chew on while they waited for the others to join them. Reese took her spot beside Flynn who smiled brightly at her while Elizabeth sat between Colin and Taylor. Beverley fluttered around the kitchen, grabbing a plate of sliced honey glazed ham and bringing it to the table that was full of other great looking food like crispy potatoes, buttery carrots — nothing like the ones Elizabeth tried to make — and a large basket of steaming rolls. On the counter, Reese could see three pies cooling. 

Once Beverley took her seat, they all dug in at once. Rufus took large helpings on carrots while Seamus dug into the ham. Flynn fought her mother for the biggest potato. Elizabeth buttered and passed around rolls and the twins giggled to each other as they ate the ham that Rufus cut up for them. Reese watched this group of people around her that had become family. She was happy that she met them, sad that she would go without saying a proper goodbye but Reese was glad to get to celebrate with them like this before she left. Flynn nudged Reese roughly with her elbow, sensing what she was feeling but not being able to actually say anything with her family around. Reese shrugged and tried to keep her brain void of emotions like those while so close to Flynn as she ate Beverley's food. It was delicious, and Reese's mouth watered as she practically shoveled carrots in. It had been so long since she'd had a homecooked meal like this.

Everyone chatted and laughed and had an all-around great time. By the time all their plates were cleared, everyone was leaned back in their chairs letting their stomachs digest what they'd just forced in. Reese noticed that Flynn had unbuttoned the top part of her skirt and was rubbing her stomach bump like she was pregnant. 

Seamus also noticed his sister and scoffed. "Boy or girl?"

"Potato," Flynn retorted, winking at Reese. "I think I'll keep him, a little extra layer for the winter." 

"Oh, that's cute, Flynn," Beverley commented, rolling her eyes at her daughter.

"Thanks, mom, I thought so too."

Everyone laughed, even Reese couldn't help the slight chuckle that escaped her usually stoic face. God, she would miss this. Beverley wiped her mouth and stood up to clear away the plates, Elizabeth pushing out her chair to help out. Seamus joined his mother, putting all the leftovers into separate containers and Rufus pulled a package of cards from a drawer in the hutch to show the twins some magic tricks. Flynn pulled Reese up from her seat.

"Mom, Reese and I are going to go up to my room for a minute, I want to gove her my gift," Flynn told her mother.

"Alright," Beverley waved them away. "But be back in five, we're going to have some pie. Do you like pie, Reese? We have pumpkin, apple, and cherry."

"Those all sound great," Reese told Beverley honestly as Flynn dragged her out of the room and up the stairs towards her room.

Once Flynn slammed her door shut with her foot she ushered over to her desk where she grabbed a small package. She practically tossed it at Reese, her face full of excitement. "Open it."    

Reese tore open the newspaper wrapping and felt her heartstrings pull when she saw a collage of photos that Flynn had compiled of the two girls. In some of them, Reese was obviously rolling her eyes but in others s glimpse of a smile could be seen. She clung to the pictures tightly, hoping Flynn couldn't see the tears brewing in her eyes.

"Thanks," Reese cleared her throat. "Thanks, Flynn, this is great."

"Rufus helped," Flynn shrugged. "He got them printed and helped me find a good frame to fit them all. I think it would look great on your bedside table. So every morning you wake up you'll think of your favorite person: me, obviously."

"Obviously," Reese echoed, rolling her eyes. "Here, I got you this."

Reese handed Flynn a book. It was something Elizabeth had picked up from the shop about witches and equalizers, Reese had read through it already but figured Flynn would enjoy it more. From the look in her friend's eyes, Reese knew that she'd thought correct. Flynn pawed through the pages, eyes taking in as much information as she could before she turned the page. 

"Wow, this is so cool," she smiled at Reese brightly. "Thanks, man."

Reese held up her collage. "This is better."

Flynn shrugged. "I aim to be the best, what can I say."

Reese didn't want to darken the mood, but she couldn't help it. "After my birthday, I'll hang it in the twin's room. They love you, you're like another sister to them."

Flynn's blue eyes darkened. "We talked about this, Reese, you're not dying."

"And I already told you," Reese answered sternly. "We're not going through with the loophole."

Flynn threw her hands up in exasperation. "God, why not!"

"Because you're not taking my place, Flynn!" Reese shouted. "Not going to happen! You have a family to think about!"

"So do you!" Flynn argued. "You have your aunt and your siblings! You're seriously going to leave them behind?"

"Yes," Reese replied bluntly, shocking both herself and Flynn. "If that's what it takes to save them and you, then I will leave them."

"I'm supposed to protect you," Flynn said, clenching her jaw in aggravation but Reese could see tears forming. "That's my job."

"Girls, pie!" Beverley shouted up the stairs.

"Nowhere in your job description does it say anything about dying for me," Reese told her, tugging her friend into her arms. "Let me do what I was born to do, Flynn. Let me free all these people and save others from Morgana. Let me do my job."

Flynn tightened her grip. "I can't, you mean to much to me."

"You have to," Reese told her softly. "Now let's make the most out of my last Christmas, okay."

Flynn sniffled and wiped her eyes. "I think apple pie goes great with whiskey, wouldn't you say?"

authors note: 

oh look it's me !!! your friendly neighborhood clown,,anyway it's been a hot sec since i updated reese (sorry about that I've been kinda lacking any inspiration for any of my fics) but i finally sat down and started writing and got something down,,whether that something is good or not doesn't matter bc it's done now !! what do you guys think about Flynn wanting to save Reese ?? also just googled the twilight timeline and Bella shows up January 18,,so should we're almost into twilight / part 2 !!! get ready (((((: